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Combined, the two men, who were the second- and third-biggest donors behind the Adelsons in the 2012 elections, gave nearly $50 million last cycle — that’s more money than the next 10 Republican donors combined.

The void the two leave behind represents an even bigger problem for the Republican Party: just as it struggles to attract younger voters, it also must win over younger elite donors.

Insiders fear that if it can’t, Republicans risk losing ground in the big money race to Democrats, who already rely on younger supporters to fuel their super PACs.

“People are obviously anxious to move on from the past,” said Kent Burton, who bundled money for Mitt Romney’s 2012 presidential campaign. “Of course, we want more young people involved. The party is for economic growth and opportunity for all. We believe that our party has more to offer the younger people — and even minorities — than the Democrats.”

“There are significant contributors who will be willing to step in. I think there will be resources to support the party and there are a lot of reasons to be optimistic,” Burton said.

Among the top 10 Republican donors of the 2012 election cycle, only one was under the age of 60 — Peter Thiel, who is 46 – and only three were under 70 – Miriam Adelson, 68; Robert Mercer, 67; and Robert Rowling, 60, according to public records. On the Democratic side, half of the top 10 donors were under 70 and three were under 60.

Other donors believe they haven’t yet done an adequate job in making the case to up-and-coming big political contributors.

Shaun McCutcheon, another big GOP donor who is the plaintiff in the latest campaign finance Supreme Court case, said the money gap is an issue.

“It’s definitely something the party needs to be concerned about,” McCutcheon said. “It’s an ongoing effort that they are interested in more generally bringing more young people into the party. But most of the conversations I’ve had are just about getting young people more active in politics, not necessarily from a fundraising point of view. I think they’re still counting on more established Republicans to give in a big way. They don’t expect to get that much money from younger people.”

Still, McCutcheon conceded that “donors in both parties tend to be in the older group because it has to do with where you are in your careers. Major donors are going to be people who are further along in their careers and have been around for a while.”

Perry and Simmons had been in the giving game for years, kicking in nearly $115 million to Republican candidates, party committees and outside groups since the 1980 election cycle, according to CQ Moneyline. That only includes gifts to groups that must disclose their donors, so their true contributions could be much higher.

Simmons gave $25.8 million to federal candidates, party committees and super PACs during the 2012 election cycle. His wife gave another $1.3 million and his company, Contran Corp. gave $4 million to super PACs.